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A delightful escape from today’s social norms and dynamics of love, the Sisters of Versailles provides a glimpse back to the time of royals of the 18th century where status reigns supreme and there is a protocol for acceptable romantic scandals and adultery. While focused on the past, the story in many ways is a reflection of what is common, yet hidden, in our society today.

The story captures a period in the King of France’s life where he is bewitched and beguiled by five sisters – each with distinct personalities and driven by differing desires and motivations. Each sister is faced with the option to pursue the ultimate position in French society as mistress of the king and it is interesting to see how their individual pursuits or lack thereof impacts the king’s life, his rule over France and the sibling relationship they have with each other. Sally Christie’s writing is rich and fulsome, capturing the different motivations of each sister adeptly – ambition, money, religion, loyalty and love.

The story is told from two angles – letters written by the sisters to each other as well as from each sister’s point of view. Christie balances between each with precision and the variety makes for an engaging story. The plot unfolds at a compelling pace, gradually revealing more of the sisters’ lives. The contrast between the sisters’ lives as represented in their letters and the actual life led by each adds to the breadth of the story. Subtly introduced, karma also plays a big role in the sister’s lives. This enchanting tale has all the elements to be an enjoyable read for a variety of tastes.

This is the third book in E.K. Blair’s The Fading Series and I read it without having read the first two books. I found the book did well as a stand-alone novel and did not feel deprived by not reading the first two in the series.

This book is one that tugs on the emotional heartstrings as you become submerged in the emotional journey of healing that Ryan and Candace embark on together. Told in the first person from Ryan’s perspective, Blair is masterful at taking a deplorable character and redeeming him before our very eyes. The love story develops slowly and patiently, rewarding us with a sweet connection as we witness the rollercoaster ride of Ryan and Candace struggling to push through the tragic circumstances of their pasts to reach a healthy and happy future together.

The beauty of the story is in the characterization, as the plot is very predictable and simple. Some of the scenes become repetitive and monotonous in the latter half of the book and you may find yourself wondering towards the end why the story hasn’t been wrapped up more succinctly. Blair’s switch to first person from Candace’s perspective in a few chapters toward the end of the book was jarring and unwelcomed.

Despite this, the strength of the love story carries you through and leads to an enjoyable reading experience.

Today, we celebrate our 2nd anniversary. I’m amazed at how much we have learned and evolved in the past two years.

This past year, we successfully published our first book — Flawless Mistake and we are about a month away from publishing the second book in that series — Flawless Danger. It has been an exciting journey and I’ve loved every minute of it.

Looking forward to many more years of growing with our company and providing you more of the books you want to read!